Nonwoven web with improved adhesion and reduced dust formation

ABSTRACT

Making suitable nonwoven webs requires good adhesion between the binder and the absorbent material. The present invention relates to a nonwoven web having improved adhesion based on tackifiers present in the binder. Optionally, the binder with tackifier may also contain an adhesion promoter, usually grafted polyolefins, and an enhancement agent, usually inactive inorganic compounds in powder form. The web comprises from about 5 to about 25% by weight binder fiber and from about 75 to 95% by weight absorbent. The absorbent may be a natural absorbent or a super absorbent polymer or a combination of these. The binder fiber contains less than about 40% by weight tackifier. Tackifier is selected from the class of rosin, rosin esters, terpene based, piperylene based, and hydrocarbon based compounds.

CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION

This application is a Continuation-in-Part Application of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 10/137,141 entitled NONWOVEN WEB WITH IMPROVED ADHESION AND REDUCED DUST FORMATION filed May 2, 2002, by the same inventors and assignee.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention

The present invention relates to dry laid and wet laid nonwoven webs useful in diapers, incontinent pads, sanitary napkins, and other absorbent pads for liquids. In particular, these pads usually comprise binder and wood pulp or other absorbent material. Making suitable nonwoven webs for these uses requires good adhesion between the binder and the absorbent material. More specifically, the present invention relates to a nonwoven web having improved adhesion based on tackifiers present in the binder, and specifically in a low melt portion thereof. Tackifiers include rosin, rosin esters, and terpene based, piperylene based, and hydrocarbon based compounds. Optionally, the binder with tackifier may also contain an adhesion promoter, usually grafted polyolefins, and an enhancement agent, usually inactive inorganic compounds in powder form

2. Prior Art

Nonwoven webs, particularly in the form of disposable absorbent articles such as disposable diapers, have had much success in the marketplace. However, there is always a need to improve these products, particularly in terms of their adhesion such that they do not fall apart during manufacturing, processing into articles, and during use. Prior to the present invention, it was known to form existing nonwovens from absorbent (wood pulp and optionally up to 25% by weight super absorbent polymer, SAP), and a binder, such as a bicomponent fiber or a low melt polymer fiber. These existing compositions contained approximately 10% binder and approximately 80 to 90% by weight absorbent.

These nonwoven webs were first created by mixing the wood pulp (and optionally SAP) with the binder. This composition was then introduced into a heating zone, such that the lower melt material of the polymer, or the lower melting material of the bicomponent fiber would melt and coat at least a portion of most of the wood pulp fibers (and any optional SAP). The composition was then introduced into a cooling zone where the lower melting binder material would solidify, thereby binding the wood pulp (and optional SAP) into a unitary web structure.

Optionally, other fibers may be introduced, such as other synthetic fibers or natural fibers, to achieve other desired characteristics, such as low density, high loft, compression resistance, and fluid uptake rate.

U.S. Pat. No. 6,190,768 issued to Turley et al. is directed to fibers prepared from polymers which comprise at least one substantially random interpolymer comprising polymer units derived from one or more alpha-olefin monomers with one or more vinyl or vinylidene aromatic monomers and/or hindered aliphatic or cycloaliphatic vinyl or vinylidene monomers. Turley is concerned with achieving a unique glass transition temperature T_(g) that is close to ambient temperature while also being able to precisely tune the stiffness and modulus of the final product. These factors are controlled by varying the relative amount of alpha-olefin(s) and vinyl or vinylidene aromatic and/or hindered aliphatic vinyl or vinylidene monomers in the final interpolymer or blend therefrom. Further variation in the T_(g) of the polymer composition disclosed by Turley et al. can be introduced by variation of the type of component blended with the substantially random interpolymer, including the presence of one or more tackifiers in the final formulation. This control of the T_(g) and modulus allows the stiffness or softness of the fiber to be varied to suit a given application. Turley et al. do not teach a binder fiber wherein the tackifier is present in a low melt portion of the fiber.

U.S. Pat. No. 6,281,289 issued to Maugans et al. discloses a multiconstituent fiber comprising a blend of a polypropylene polymer and a high molecular weight ethylene polymer. The fiber and polymer blend has improved bonding performance and can be utilized in woven and nonwoven fabrics. Maugans et al. disclose that the invention “may find utility in adhesive formulations, optionally in combination with one or more tackifiers, plasticizers, or waxes.” Thus, while Maugans et al. disclose the use of tackifiers, they are not used in the fiber application. Rather, the use of tackifier is limited to and only disclosed in an adhesive formulation embodiment, such as hot melts, epoxy systems, and pressure adhesives. These are not binder fibers. Muagans et al. do not teach a binder fiber wherein the tackifier is present in a low melt portion of the fiber. Further, none of the example fibers of Maugans et al. discloses a fiber with tackifier therein.

U.S. Pat. No. 5,981,410 to Hansen, et al. discloses bicomponent fibers blended with cellulose fibers such as pulp fibers or cotton fibers to create a nonwoven web useful in disposable diapers, for example.

U.S. Pat. No. 5,994,244 to Fujiwara, et al. discloses a nonwoven web comprised of cellulose type fibers such as fluff pulp and low melt fibers useful in producing disposable diapers, among other things. It also discloses the addition of inorganic particle (e.g. TiO₂) to the ethylene-acrylic ester-maleic anhydride sheath bicomponent spunbond filament. The particles reduce the adhesion of the filaments during spinning and give a more uniform web.

Suitable bicomponent fibers can be found in U.S. Pat. No. 4,950,541 to Tabor, et al. and U.S. Pat. No. 5,372,885 to Tabor, et al., both of which are hereby incorporated by reference. These patents disclose the use of a low melt maleic acid or maleic anhydride grafted polyethylene.

U.S. Pat. No. 5,126,201 to Shiba et al. discloses the addition of TiO₂ in both the core and sheath of bicomponent binder fibers to improve the cutting efficiency of nonwoven webs. The amount of TiO₂ in the core is >1.5%, preferably, there is no TiO₂ in the sheath, since TiO₂ in the sheath reduces adhesion.

Japanese Patent JP 02-169718 to Matsuo et al. discloses polyolefin sheath/polyester core bicomponent fibers, the sheath containing 0.3-10% of inorganic particles (preferably TiO₂) to obtain a better softness and opacity of the web. This patent teaches that the addition of inorganic particles reduce the nonwoven strength.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

As stated previously, there is still a need in the art to improve the adhesion of these nonwoven webs. The present invention is an improvement over these existing nonwoven web products. In particular, the present invention improves the adhesion by employing a tackifier. Tackifiers include rosin, rosin esters, and terpene based, piperylene based, and hydrocarbon based compounds.

The present invention relates to either bicomponent fiber or low melt polymer fiber, and tackifier thereby producing a binder with improved adhesion. The bicomponent fiber contains a high melting portion and a low melting portion, with the low melting portion containing tackifier. If low melt fiber (instead of bicomponent fiber) was employed, it, likewise, contains tackifier. The tackifier is believed to act as an adhesion-promoting agent, better binding the absorbent material together into a unitary web. The low melt polymer fiber or the low melting portion of the bicomponent fiber is defined as “low melt base”. The melting point of the low melt base is preferably less than 200° C.

In the broadest sense, the present invention comprises a binder fiber containing tackifier. The binding fiber may be a bicomponent fiber or a typical low melt polymer fiber. The low melt base contains the tackifier. The binder fiber containing tackifier may, optionally, contain an adhesion promoter and an enhancement agent.

In the broadest sense, the web of the present invention comprises binder fiber containing tackifier and an absorbent. The absorbent may be synthetic or natural.

In the broadest sense, the present invention also comprises a web comprising from about 5 to about 25% by weight binder fiber and from about 75 to 95% by weight absorbent. The absorbent may be a natural absorbent or a super absorbent polymer or a combination of these. The binder fiber contains less than about 40% by weight tackifier based on the low melt base.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

Suitable absorbents are natural or synthetic absorbents. Synthetic absorbents are primarily known as super absorbent polymers (SAP). The absorbents comprise 75-95% by weight of the web. Natural absorbents are hydrophilic materials, such as cellulosic fibers, wood pulp fluff, cotton, cotton linters, and regenerated cellulose fibers, such as rayon, or a mixture of these. Preferred is wood pulp fluff, which is both inexpensive and readily available.

Absorbent pads employing natural absorbents may not provide adequate fluid intake for all circumstances. Also, natural absorbents are very bulky. Accordingly, many absorbent pads employ SAP in relatively low quantities. This is because the cost of SAP is much higher than the cost of natural absorbents. Replacing some of the natural absorbents with SAP can reduce the overall bulk of the pad and/or provide superior fluid intake.

As used herein, the term “super absorbent polymer” or “SAP” refers to a water-swellable, generally water-insoluble material capable of absorbing at least about 10, desirably about 20, and preferably about 50 times or more its weight in water. The super absorbent polymer may be formed from organic material, which may include natural materials such as agar, pectin, and guar gum, as well as synthetic materials, such as synthetic hydrogel polymers. Synthetic hydrogel polymers include, for example, carboxymethyl cellulose, alkali metal salts of polyacrylic acid, polyacrylamides, polyvinyl alcohol, ethylene maleic anhydride copolymers, polyvinyl ethers, hydroxypropyl cellulose, polyvinyl morpholinone, polymers and copolymers of vinyl sulfonic acid, polyacrylates, polyacrylamides, polyvinyl pyridine, and the like. Other suitable polymers include hydrolyzed acrylonitrile grafted starch, acrylic acid grafted starch, and isobutylene maleic anhydride copolymers, and mixtures thereof. The hydrogel polymers are preferably lightly crosslinked to render the materials substantially water insoluble. Crosslinking may, for example, be by irradiation or covalent, ionic, van der Waals, or hydrogen bonding. Suitable materials are available from various commercial vendors such as the Dow Chemical Company, Allied Colloid, Inc., and Stockhausen, Inc. The super absorbent polymer may be in the form of particles, flakes, fibers, rods, films or any of a number of geometric forms.

The binder fibers of the present invention can either be in the form of a low melt fiber, or a bicomponent fiber. The low melting portion of the bicomponent fiber would comprise the same material as the low melt fiber. The preferred binder fiber of the present invention is the bicomponent. Binder fibers have an average length of from about 3 to about 75 mm. Binder fibers having a denier of between 1 and 10 are preferred. The low melt base can be polyolefin, such as polyethylene (PE), polypropylene (PP), polybutylene or a mixture of these. Suitable polyethylene may be high-density polyethylene (HDPE), medium density polyethylene (MDPE), low-density polyethylene (LDPE), linear low-density polyethylene (LLDPE), ultra low-density polyethylene (ULDPE); or a mixture of these. These polyolefins may be produced with either Ziegler-Natta or metallocene catalysts.

Bicomponent fibers can be of the type in which the low melting portion is adjacent to the high melting portion such as a side-by-side configuration, or a sheath-core configuration where the sheath is the low melting component and the core is the high melting component. The high melting portion may be selected from the class of polyolefins, such as polyethylene, polypropylene, and polybutylene; polyesters such as polyethylene terephthalate (PET), polybutylene terephthalate, polyethylene naphthalate, and the like; polyamides such as nylon 6, nylon 66; polyacrylates such as polymethacrylate, polymethylmethacrylate, and the like; as well as mixtures and copolymers of these. The low melting portion, in a suitable bicomponent fiber melts at a temperature of at least about 5° C. lower than said high melting portion.

Suitable bicomponent fibers have a low melting portion that comprises from about 5 to about 75% by weight of the bicomponent fiber, with the remainder being the high melting portion. If, for example, a 50-50 bicomponent fiber is employed as the binder fiber, the 50% by weight low melting portion is low melt base with less than about 40% by weight tackifier (with or without an adhesion promoter or enhancement agent, or a mixture thereof), and the 50% by weight high melting portion could be PET.

Ignoring other components for a moment, suitable bicomponent fibers are polyethylene/polypropylene; polyethylene/polyester (especially polyethylene terephthalate); polyethylene/nylon, for example, as well as mixtures of these. Preferably, polyethylene/polyester fibers, such as LLDPE/PET or polyethylene/polypropylene, such as LLDPE/PP are used.

Tackifiers include rosin, rosin esters, and terpene based, piperylene based, and hydrocarbon based compounds. Commercially available rosin based tackifiers are known as Foral 85 made by Hercules, Inc.; Permalyn 2085 made by Eastman Chemicals; or Escorez 5400 made by Mobil Exxon Chemical. Commercially available terpene based tackifiers are Zonarez, Zonatac and Nirez from Arizona Chemical Company. Commercially available piperylene based tackifiers are Picotac and Hercotac available from Hercules, Inc. A commercially available hydrocarbon based tackifier is Escorez 5400 from ExxonMobil. The preferred tackifier is rosin ester, and most preferred is a glycerin ester of tall oil rosin. The tackifier preferably comprises from about 0.1 to about 40% by weight of the low melt base, and preferably 0.5 to 10%, and most preferably 1 to 5%.

The adhesion promoters, such as polyolefins grafted with maleic acid or maleic anhydride (MAH), both of which convert to succinic acid or succinic anhydride upon grafting to the polyolefin, can be optionally used in addition to the tackifier. The preferred incorporated MAH graft level is 10% by weight (by titration). Also, ethylene-acrylic copolymers, and a combination of this with the grafted polyolefins mentioned, are suitable adhesion promoters. Commercially available maleic anhydride grafted polyethylene are known as ASPUN resins from Dow Chemical. Commercially available ethylene-acrylic copolymers are Bynel 2022, Bynol 21E533 and Fusabond MC 190D from DuPont, and the Escor acid terpolymers from ExxonMobil. The ethylene-acrylic copolymer comprises from about 1 to about 20% by weight based on the weight of the low melt base, and preferably from 5 to 15% by weight. The amount of grafted polyolefin adhesion promoter is such that the weight of incorporated maleic acid or maleic anhydride comprises from about 0.05% to about 2% by weight, and preferably from 0.1 to 1.5% based on the weight of the low melt base.

Enhancement agents can be optionally used in addition to the tackifier and the optional adhesion promoter. The enhancement agent can comprise any of titanium dioxide, talc, silica, alum, calcium carbonate, calcium oxide, magnesium and other oxides; titanium dioxide being preferred. The enhancement agent is employed in the polymer in an amount from about 0.1 to about 1% based on the weight of the low melt base. The particle size, in order to achieve good dispersion within the polymer and good spinnability, is in the range of about 0.04 to about 5 microns and, preferably, in the range of 0.05 to 2 micron.

Once the low melt base with tackifier and any adhesion promoter and any enhancement agent is produced, preferably by blending master batches to the low melt base, it is melt spun into fiber as is known in the art.

Webs of the present invention can be made by either dry laid or wet laid processes. Dry laid webs are made by the airlay, carding, garneting, or random carding processes. Airlaid webs are created by introducing the fibers into an air current, which uniformly mixes the fibers and then deposits them on a screen surface. The carding process separates tufts into individual fibers by combing or raking the fibers into a parallel alignment. Garneting is similar to carding in that the fibers are combed. Thereafter, the combed fibers are interlocked to form a web. Multiple webs can be overlapped to build up a desired weight. Random carding uses centrifugal force to throw fibers into a web with random orientation of the fibers. Again, multi-layers can be created to obtain the desired web weight. The dry laid components are then bonded together. Wet laid webs are made by a modified papermaking process in which the fibers are suspended in water, decanted on a screen, dried, and bonded together.

The webs are bonded by a binding fiber such as low melt polymer fiber or bicomponent fiber as noted above. The web of fibers (binder fibers and absorbent) can be bonded together by thermal means. Thermal bonding melts the binder fibers in an oven (hot air, radiant or microwave), or heated calendar roll(s), or by ultrasonic energy. Next, the web is cooled thereby solidifying the melted binder fiber. The web now has sufficient rigid structure to be useful as a component of an absorbent pad.

The webs are made by mixing the binder fiber (either the low melt polymer fiber or bicomponent fiber, or both) with the absorbent fibers (with or without SAP) using dry laid or wet laid techniques. The absorbent is mixed with the binder fiber such that the binder fiber comprises from about 5 to about 25 percent by weight of the total web, with the remainder being substantially the absorbent. The web compositions of the present invention can be layered until their weight is in the range from about 20 to about 500 grams per square meter (gsm), preferably from about 50 to about 250 gsm. Thereafter, the web may be cut into various lengths and widths for end use applications, namely, fenestration drapes, dental bibs, eye pads, diapers, incontinent pads, sanitary napkins, wound dressing pads, air filters, liquid filters, and fabrics, such as drapes, bedding or pillows.

Test Procedure

The dry strength of the web was measured according to TAPPI test method T 498 om-88. The web strength was tested on a 25.4×203.2 millimeter strip for both the MD (machine direction) and CD (cross direction) with an Instron 1122 test machine. The tests were run at 127 mm original separation at a speed of 304.8 mm per minute. The strength is reported in units of g/25 mm.

Bonding Index is the square root of the product of the machine direction and cross direction strengths.

The dust test used a 127×127 mm section of the web, cut into 25.4×25.4 mm samples. The samples were put into a Fluff Fiberization machine. An air stream with 100 PSI was applied to the samples for 300 seconds. The loosed fiber (dust) was collected with a filter. The percent of weight lost was reported as the percent of dust.

EXAMPLES

In the following examples various bicomponent fibers were made with a core of 0.55 IV PET and a sheath of various compositions. The bicomponent fibers comprised a 50/50 core/sheath with the sheath being mainly LLDPE. The LLDPE was obtained from Dow Chemical Company as Aspun XU 61800.34 (Dow 34), which contains 10% by weight incorporated MAH. Additives (tackifier, adhesion promoter and enhancement agent) in a pre-blend were mixed with the sheath polymer prior to fiber spinning. The tackifier was preblended with 40% concentrate of the sheath polymer. The bicomponent fibers, after being spun and drawn, were cut into 6 mm lengths.

The webs comprised 12% bicomponent fiber by weight and 88% wood pulp. The pulp type employed was Waco 416. The percentage of tackifier, adhesion promoter, and enhancement agent used in the Examples (and set forth in the Tables) are based on the weight of the low melt base.

Example 1

Various bicomponent fibers were as shown in Table 1. The adhesion promoters were maleic anhydride grafted polyethylene obtained from Dow Chemical as ASPUN XU 60769.07 (Dow07), ethylene-acrylic copolymers obtained from DuPont as BYNEL 2022 and from ExxonMobil as ESCOR AT-325. The tackifier was a glycerin ester of tall oil rosin obtained from Eastman Chemical as PERMALYN 2085.

Nonwoven webs were made from these bicomponent fibers with a wet-lay process to give a basis weight of 51 g/m². The web samples were dried at 100° C. for 32 seconds and then bonded in a hot air oven at 135° C. for 15 seconds. The bonding indices are shown in Table 1 and compared to the control, which did not contain a tackifier. TABLE 1 Bonding Bonding Index, Relative to Fiber Adhesion Promoter, % Tackifier, % Temp., C. g/25 mm Control, % Control Dow 07, 10% None 135 250.0 1 Bynel 2022, 5% Permalyn, 5% 135 368.9 47.0 2 Escor AT 325, 5% Permalyn, 5% 135 285.4 13.8 3 Dow 07, 5% Permalyn, 5% 135 388.1 54.7 4 Escor AT 325, 8% Permalyn, 2% 135 281.1 12.0

This example shows the improved tensile strength using a tackifier and adhesion promoter.

Example 2

In this example wet laid webs were prepared in the same manner as in Example 1, and examined the effect on adhesion promoter and tackifier levels on web strength. The bicomponent compositions and bonding indices are reported in Table 2. The control was a sheath that contained no adhesion promoter or tackifier. TABLE 2 Adhesion Bonding Bonding Index, Relative to Fiber Promoter, % Tackifier, % Temp., C. g/25 mm Control, % Control None None 135 314.3  5 Dow 07, 5% None 135 267.0 −15.0  6 Dow 07, 10% None 135 339.7 8.1  7 None Permalyn, 5% 135 415.7 32.3  8 Dow 07, 5% Permalyn, 5% 135 442.2 40.7  9 Dow 07, 10% Permalyn, 5% 135 412.5 31.2 10 None Permalyn, 10% 135 422.3 34.4 Control None None 175 378.3  5 Dow 07, 5% None 175 345.7 −8.6  6 Dow 07, 10% None 175 401.6 6.2  7 None Permalyn, 5% 175 405.7 7.2  8 Dow 07, 5% Permalyn, 5% 175 493.4 30.4  9 Dow 07, 10% Permalyn, 5% 175 492.9 30.3 10 None Permalyn, 10% 175 444.3 17.4

This example shows that a tackifier alone, without an adhesion promoter, improves the bonding index of the web.

Example 3

This example studies the effect of tackifier level using webs prepared as in Example 1. The bicomponent compositions and bonding indices are reported in Table 3. The control was a sheath that contained 5% Dow 07 adhesion promoter. TABLE 3 Adhesion Bonding Bonding Relative to Fiber Promoter, % Tackifier, % Temp., C. Index, g/25 mm Control, % Control Dow 07, 5% None 135 210.1 11 Dow 07, 5% Permalyn 2085, 1% 135 337.7 60.8 12 Dow 07, 5% Permalyn 2085, 2.5% 135 346.3 64.8 13 Dow 07, 5% Permalyn 2085, 3.75% 135 352.6 67.8 14 Dow 07, 5% Permalyn 2085, 5% 135 401.6 91.2 Control Dow 07, 5% None 175 268.2 11 Dow 07, 5% Permalyn 2085, 1% 175 431.0 60.7 12 Dow 07, 5% Permalyn 2085, 2.5% 175 351.4 31.0 13 Dow 07, 5% Permalyn 2085, 3.75% 175 456.1 70.1 14 Dow 07, 5% Permalyn 2085, 5% 175 452.7 68.8

This example shows that even a low level of tackifier, 1% by weight, improves the bonding index dramatically.

Example 4

Bicomponent fibers were prepared as in Example 1. These fibers were air laid with the wood pulp to give webs with a basis weight of 175 g/m². The web passed through a dryer with 15 seconds residence time at 140 or 175° C. The bicomponent compositions and bonding indices are reported in Table 4. The control was a sheath that contained 10% Dow 07 adhesion promoter. In this example, an enhancement agent, TiO2, was used. The TiO2 was preblended with the sheath polyethylene (Dow 34) at a 35% concentration. TABLE 4 Adhesion Bonding Bonding Index, Relative to Fiber Promoter, % Tackifier, % TiO₂, % Temp., C. g/25 mm Control, % Control Dow 07, 10% None None 140 267.0 15 Dow 07, 5% Permalyn 2085, 2.5% None 140 342.4 28.2 16 Dow 07, 5% Permalyn 2085, 2.5% 0.70 140 414.9 55.4 17 Dow 07, 5% Permalyn 2085, 2.5% 0.35 140 398.9 49.4 18 Dow 07, 5% Permalyn 2085, 5% 0.35 140 413.8 55.0 19 Dow 07, 5% Permalyn 2085, 5% 0.70 140 348.0 30.3

The enhancement agent improved the bonding index.

Dust formation in air-laid processes is of concern. The webs from the control and runs 16 and 19, bonded at 140° C., were subjected to the dust test. The results are shown in Table 5. TABLE 5 Adhesion Bonding Fiber Promoter, % Tackifier, % TiO₂, % Temp., C. Dust, % Dust reduction Control Dow 07, 10% None None 140 7.95 16 Dow 07, 5% Permalyn 2085, 2.5% 0.7 140 6.45 18.9 19 Dow 07, 5% Permalyn 2085, 5% 0.7 140 6.96 12.5

The tackifier with enhancement agent reduced the dust formation.

Thus, it is apparent that there has been provided, in accordance with the invention, a binder fiber with tackifier, and a web made therefrom, that fully satisfies the objects, aims, and advantages set forth above. While the invention has been described in conjunction with specific embodiments thereof, it is evident that many alternatives, modifications, and variations will be apparent to those skilled in the art in light of the foregoing description. Accordingly, it is intended to embrace all such alternatives, modifications, and variations as fall within the spirit and broad scope of the appended claims. 

1. An improved binder fiber comprising a low melt polyolefin base with tackifier, wherein said low melt polyolefin base is low melt fiber, the low melting portion of bicomponent fiber, or both, and is selected from a group consisting of polyethylene, polypropylene, polybutylene, or a mixture thereof.
 2. The improved binder fiber of claim 1, wherein said tackifier is selected from the class of rosin, rosin esters, terpene based, piperylene based, and hydrocarbon based compounds.
 3. The improved binder fiber of claim 1, wherein said bicomponent fiber has a high melting portion selected from the class of polyamide, polyester, polyolefin, polyacrylate, and mixtures thereof.
 4. The improved binder fiber of claim 3, wherein said high melting portion is polyester.
 5. The improved binder fiber of claim 3, wherein said high melting portion is polyolefin.
 6. The improved binder fiber of claim 1, wherein said tackifier comprises from about 0.1 to about 40% by weight of said low melt base.
 7. The improved binder fiber of claim 6, wherein said tackifier comprises at least 2.5% by weight of said low melt base.
 8. The binder fiber of claim 3, wherein said low melt base comprises from about 5% to about 75% by weight of said bicomponent fiber.
 9. The improved binder fiber of claim 1, wherein said polyolefin base is polyethylene and is selected from the class of HDPE, MDPE, LDPE, LLDPE, ULDPE, or mixtures of these.
 10. The improved binder fiber of claim 1, wherein said low melt polymer fiber consists essentially of said low melt base and said tackifier.
 11. The improved binder fiber of claim 1, wherein said low melt base additionally comprises an adhesion promoter.
 12. The improved binder fiber of claim 11, wherein said adhesion promoter is selected from the class of maleic acid or maleic anhydride grafted polyolefin, ethylene-acrylic copolymers, or a combination of these.
 13. The improved binder fiber of claim 12, wherein said grafted polyolefin contains incorporated maleic acid or maleic anhydride in the range from about 0.05 to about 2.0 weight % of said low melt base.
 14. The improved binder fiber of claim 12, wherein said ethylene-acrylic copolymers are present in a range of about 1 to about 20 weight % of said low melt base.
 15. The improved binder fiber of claim 11, wherein said bicomponent fiber has a high melting portion selected from the class of polyamide, polyester, polyolefin, polyacrylate, and mixtures thereof.
 16. The improved binder fiber of claim 15, wherein said high melting portion is polyester.
 17. The improved binder fiber of claim 15, wherein said high melting portion is polyolefin.
 18. The improved binder fiber of claim 1, additionally comprising an enhancement agent in said low melt base.
 19. The improved binder fiber of claim 18, wherein said enhancement agent is selected from the class of titanium dioxide, talc, silica, alum, calcium carbonate, calcium oxide, and magnesium oxide.
 20. The improved binder fiber of claim 18, wherein said enhancement agent is present in a range of about 0.1 to 1.0 weight % of said low melt base.
 21. The improved binder fiber of claim 18, wherein said bicomponent fiber has a high melting portion selected from the class of polyamide, polyester, polyolefin, polyacrylate, and mixtures thereof.
 22. The improved binder fiber of claim 21, wherein said high melting portion is polyester.
 23. The improved binder fiber of claim 21, wherein said high melting portion is polyolefin.
 24. A nonwoven web comprising binder fiber and absorbent, said binder fiber comprising a low melt polyolefin base with tackifier, wherein said low melt polyolefin base is low melt fiber, the low melting portion of bicomponent fiber, or both, and is selected from a group consisting of polyethylene, polypropylene, polybutylene, or a mixture thereof.
 25. The web of claim 24, wherein said binder fiber is from about 5 to about 25 weight % of said web.
 26. The web of claim 24, wherein said absorbent comprises natural absorbents, super absorbent polymer, or both.
 27. The web of claim 24, wherein said bicomponent fiber has a high melting portion selected from the class of polyamides, polyesters, polyolefins, polyacrylates, and mixtures thereof.
 28. The web of claim 27, wherein said high melting portion is polyester.
 29. The web of claim 27, wherein said high melting portion is polyolefin.
 30. The web of claim 24, wherein said tackifier comprises from about 0.1 to about 40 % by weight of said low melt base.
 31. The web of claim 24, wherein said tackifier is selected form the class of rosin, rosin esters, terpene based, piperylene based, and hydrocarbon based compounds.
 32. The web of claim 24, wherein said low melt polymer fiber is substantially low melt base and said tackifier.
 33. The web of claim 24, wherein said polyethylene is selected from the class of HDPE, MDPE, LDPE, LLDPE, ULDPE, or mixtures of these.
 34. The web of claim 24, additionally comprising an adhesion promoter in said low melt base.
 35. The web of claim 34, wherein said adhesion promoter is selected from the class of maleic acid or maleic anhydride grafted polyolefin, ethylene-acrylic copolymers, or a combination of these.
 36. The web of claim 35, wherein said grafted polyolefin contains incorporated maleic acid or maleic anhydride in the range from about 0.05 to about 2.0 weight % of said low melt base.
 37. The web of claim 35, wherein said ethylene-acrylic copolymers are present in a range of about 1 to about 20 weight % of said low melt base.
 38. The web of claim 34, wherein said bicomponent fiber has a high melting portion selected from the class of polyamides, polyesters, polyolefins, polyacrylates, and mixtures thereof.
 39. The web of claim 38, wherein said high melting portion is polyester.
 40. The web of claim 38, wherein said high melting portion is polyolefin.
 41. The web of claim 24, wherein said low melt base also contains enhancement agent.
 42. The web of claim 41, wherein said enhancement agent is selected from the class of titanium dioxide, talc, silica, alum, calcium carbonate, calcium oxide, and magnesium oxide.
 43. The web of claim 41, wherein said enhancement agent is present in a range from about 0.1 to 1.0 weight % of said low melt base.
 44. The web of claim 41, wherein said bicomponent fiber has a high melting portion selected from the class of polyamides, polyesters, polyolefins, polyacrylates, and mixtures thereof.
 45. The web of claim 44, wherein said high melting portion is polyester.
 46. The web of claim 44, wherein said high melting portion is polyolefin. 